Wednesday: The Church at Philadelphia
Read Revelation 3:7. What are the ways that Jesus is introduced to this church? What do these descriptions tell us about Him?
The church is commended for keeping Christ’s word and for not denying His name, even though their strength appears to be quite weak (Rev. 3:8).
Image © Review & Herald Publishing from GoodSalt.com
Jesus makes an intriguing promise that members of the synagogue of Satan will soon come and pay homage to the Philadelphians (Rev. 3:9). This is taken from Isaiah 60:14, describing the oppressors of God’s people prostrating themselves in submission, in direct contrast to all the harsh treatment that they had previously given to God’s people. From this we may understand that the synagogue of Satan had been making life difficult for the early Christians. As we have seen, some of the previous churches struggled with those who were teaching error and causing problems-one of the ways that Satan works against the churches. Philadelphia, it seems, is the one who finally rids the church of this source of evil.
Read Revelation 3:10. How do you understand the perseverance of the Philadelphian church? How did Jesus promise to limit their trial? What does that mean for us today?
It seems apparent that the Philadelphian church had passed through times as equally tough as the previous churches, but their attitude seems to have been different. This is the first church that Jesus doesn’t specifically point out a failing that they need to work on. Their faith and their cooperation with God has been noticed and appreciated by the Savior, again despite their “little strength” (Rev 3:8, NKJV).
The promises to the overcomer from this church include being made a pillar in God’s temple so that they no longer need to float in and out (Rev. 3:12). With the new names they are given, they are fully identified as belonging to God, maybe because they had already been identifying with God in all aspects of their lives previously.
| If you were suddenly in heaven, right now, how well would you fit in? |
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we have to persevere in the truth watever will be the consequences of it, God need us to be faithful in His word.
Even if like the church of Philadelphia we have a little faith, let it be anchored in Christ alone because if we think our faith is small and we do not hold on to Christ, even that little one will be lost. God bless us
This church though weak is commended for keeping God's word.Yes there were temptations to overcome but the church remains resolute.The promise for the church is for it to be grounded and rooted in this Word that they will not be shaken.They are also assured of salvation and a place inthe new Jerusalem.We may be outnumbered, tormented in various ways and ridiculed for our faith yet if we remain resolute, salvation will be ours.
What are the ways that Jesus is introduced to this church? What do these descriptions tell us about Him?
Holy: God, who is Holy was glorified in Jesus' holiness
True: “no variableness or shadow of change”
Key of David: All authority
Opens and shuts: All Power in heaven and earth
How do you understand the perseverance of the Philadelphian church? How did Jesus promise to limit their trial? What does that mean for us today?
Faith is the victory. Faith is acting on the conviction of Truth, and without this steadfast faith, there is no patient enduring. This is our “keeping” in the hour of trial while others fail through unbelief. Isn't every trial over faith?
If you were suddenly in heaven, right now, how well would you fit in?
Why these questions of “IF”? I am not in heaven right now, yet God is merciful and able to save to the utmost. Every conviction of sin is a step towards fitting in heaven if we acknowledge Him in all our ways.
Thanks be to God our father who is merciful and forgiving who want to save us and to give us a place in his kingdom.Let us by his grace ask him to give us the power to live daily in his presence and by his indwelling Spirit overcome the evil one.
I have a question that is the last one for teaching my class this Sabbath. It is this. How do you understand Eph.2:8 in comparison to what we have studied in Rev.1.2 and 3? Do we have a part to play:so to speak?
If so what might it be?
Paul, repentance on our part is exercising faith in God's grace, "given in Christ Jesus before the world began".
I would to God that we were in a such state to receive the Philadelphia message of commendation from Jesus, but the sad reality is that we, God's people, are not now Philadelphia; we are Laodicea,the last church. (This we will study later in the lesson).
The words of Jesus, "I know your works", a common refrain in the letters to the churches, do not connote a pleasant prognosis for us, especially as we examine the significance of Philadelphia, "brotherly love". Never before has God's church been as divided, as in this "me, myself and I" dispensation. Selfishness reigns as king on the throne of our hearts, leading to striving for supremacy, self-righteousness, the love of power and authority over others and for material things among diverse other vices. Even as the evil one ratchets up his efforts to devour as many of us as possible, we are almost totally oblivious to our true condition. But there's hope!
The Holy One, who is true, and who has the key of David, still opens the door of invitation to us that no other power can shut (Rev. 3:7). We must one by one take heed to the injunction given to the churches, "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches Rev. 3:13). Though prophesy foretells God's remnant people will suffer persecution, difficulty, hardship and privation and temptation, like no other, we must remain faithful and as He said to Philadelphia, "you have a little strength, and have kept my word, and have not denied My name" (Rev. 3:8), we may hear Jesus say to us and take courage and comfort in His word.
As individuals and as a collective unit, united in Christ, we can only survive such tempestuous times ahead, as we daily submit to God's will and the leading of His Spirit in our lives right NOW, in the acceptable time. He must do the work of transformation in each of us, that is needed for such a character as that which would fit us for heaven, living in the Holy presence of our awesome God for eternity.
Chorus for today:
Love, love, love , love
The gospel in a word is love
Love thy neighbor as thy brother
Love, love, love.
Surely our victory comes from God,when we have little faith but faithful to God, God shall strengthen us and increase our faith. The church of Philadelphia is a good example, When God stands on our side no one can change our destiny.
God is not blaming the church but instead he is encouraging it, assisting it to stand. That shows us how much God is interested in us to make sure that we grow.
Historically, I've understood that the Philadelphian period extended from 1833 till 1845. (A very short but intense time in the history of God's people.)
During this period "hearts were united in the sweetest fellowship" (GC 379), and the attention of the Advent people was directed to the heavenly Sanctuary. They experienced the time when the "door" into the Holy Place was effectively closed, and the "door" into the Most Holy Place was opened... no-one from that point onwards will be able to shut that door. (Rev 3:7)
The Advent people went on to experience a terrible "hour of temptation" (Rev 3:10) when they went through the Great Disappointment of October 1844. They faced the temptation to deny everything [i.e. all their convictions and experiences] leading up to the October 22 disappointment.
But Jesus warned and encouraged them -- "hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. He who overcomes [the temptation to deny], I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more." (Rev 3:11-12)
This is the church that is active and it is likened to the time of reformation. The time of martin luther , john huss and others who went around preaching the word of God
Fredrick,
I am not aware that the SDA church has taught the view that the church of Philadelphia represents the time of Luther, Huss, etc.
I've understood that the SDA church taught for years that it was the time of William Miller, and the early Advent people. Can you refer to an example of SDA's teaching that the Philadelphian period corresponds to the Reformation (of the 1400-1500's)?
Sardis is the Reformation/post Reformation era of the Church. The description cannot be mistaken as history proves it.
Yes, the reformation still continues, but there was a terrible stagnation period as the letter to Sardis describes.
Robert, I've found it quite striking that the current SS Lessons are not representing the historical teachings regarding the Seven Churches which the church has carried for generations.
The way now seems to be open to re-invent our proverbial wheels, and this seems strange [and really quite disturbing] to me.
What has happened?
Stewart, the seven churches can be considered at multiple levels. I am of course familiar with the interpretation of, where each church represents a historical period in the Christian church. However it is worth considering the characteristics of each church because at another level, in our current church we have people who could be considered to be in one of those churches.
There are folk who were zealous for the Lord but who have lost their first love; There are those who have entertained false doctrine; some of us are acting luke warm; and so on.
If the only thing we get from the messages to the seven churches is that it applies to historical periods, then we are missing the greater lesson of what were the challenges they face and what was the message for the church in the face of those challenges. The lesson this week has focused on this aspect quite rightly. While we are living in the Laodicean period, the message for us personally may be the one that is applied to a different historical church. That does not deny the historical interpretation but it expands it and makes it more relevant to us.
Stewart, you ask "what has happened?"
What does the True Witness tell us in the letter to this period called Laodicea? First: Laodicea is blind. Second: one of the "items" the True Witness asks us to buy is the discernment that comes through the Holy Spirit. So it would seem that we are blind and lack discernment according to the True Witness.
Could this be related to the problem you(and others) have noticed?
It would seem that the True Witness is correct.
Maurice,
Thank you. You've spoken as a peace-maker... I can accept what you've said, and especially agree when you say,
"If the only thing we get from the messages to the seven churches is that it applies to historical periods, then we are missing the greater lesson..."
Relevancy is important.
And thank you Robert. As a people we are warned that we are especially prone to not seeing the reality, and I'm feeling at the moment that I must apply this to myself.
I thank you brethren for this great work you have done in the discussion of the week's lesson. To me, this lesson was very hard to understand and I wondered" what will I take to my class"?
your comments have added a lot of value to the points the author of the lesson raised.
please keep it up with this good work.
Happy Sabbath rest to you all.